2009 Salento Rosso Graticciaia

The 2009 Graticcaia is one of the most distinctive wines to emerge from Puglia today. Fruit is sourced from ancient alberello or head-pruned vines and is air-dried on straw mats (called "graticci" in Italian) for up to three weeks. Stylistically, the wine shares many of the dried fruit characteristics of Amarone from Northern Italy. This expression of Negroamaro delivers dark fruit aromas of prune, raisin, scorched earth and burnt almond shell. It ages in Allier and Never barrique for one year. The charred notes are very strong and come in stark contrast to the very noticeable jammy sweetness that this wine delivers to the palate. The finish is chewy, soft and very ripe. It should drink well over the next five years.